SteadyPass DIY speed control

[tgi100]

Hey everyone. It has been a bit since I started this project, but the SteadyPass is working rather well now that I have the gains tuned. It took awhile to get the right numbers, but long story short the default settings are not made for a boat that has this much power and there is a lot of over-correction. After turning the gains waaaay down, it works like a champ. Pulling as hard as my lame skills can do, the speed fluctuates less than 0.5 mph and there is no noticable engine surging. Typically skiing between 30 to 32 mph at 15-off. My ski partner goes 32-34 and 15 off rather easy through the course.

I'll post some videos later.

[MN Ryan]

I love that they have "The Marriage Saver" on the display. Now, if you could convince my wife to pull me in calm water versus the windy middle of the lake just so she's at least 1/2 mile from any other boat, that'd be something.

[tgi100]

Here is a link to one of the videos. You can see me in the reflection and notice the speed change with the rope pull.

[Huckelfin]

I had steady pass for awhile, works fine for free skiing and easy to use. Perfect pass is quite a bit better in the course though. If you are serious, you need perfect pass at minimum in my opinon, after using Steady Pass for 3 years.

[SilentSeven]

MN Ryan

Ah....the old 'teach the non-skiing SO to drive the boat the right way' problem. It's like trying to bear hug a rose bush. Been down the road multiple times....go there at your own risk.

A PP solves the speed management process...a huge step forward. Trying to teach a non-skiing driver how to sus out the best water....nearly impossible....

[MN Ryan]

SilentSeven My wife has been skiing about 20 years longer than I--she's to blame for getting me into it. The problem is that she is terrified of other boat drivers. I normally just bite my tongue or bring one of her brothers along!

[SilentSeven]

Interesting. My wife is similar...she's very uncomfortable around other boats. The uncertainty I think has to do with the ambiguity of the actions of the other pilot and how and when she should hold her line or give way. I've worked to help her but the 'white space' aspect of open water vs a road system seems challenging. I would have said her not growing boating might be related but it seems that your wife has a boating history and a similar challenge.

...I have a buddy I've skied with for...um...decades....and we operate on a vulcan mind meld basis when skiiing/driving. It's awesome. We read the lines and water the same and the boat always ends up in the right place to get the run. It's always hard for another driver to step in and replicate that.

[MN Ryan]

Yes, I agree that the openess of the water vs. hard rules of the road is what makes her uneasy. She's always had someone else to drive the boat, but now that we have a boat of our own, that is not always the case. I'm not about to let our 11-year old pull me yet.